Desk



G. J.\BARRETT Oct. 8, 1935.

DESK

Filed Dec. 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l w e r m a U n M fiv w, i ww a Oct. 8, 1935- e. .1. BARRETT D ESK Fild Dec. 24, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/14M I Qlenn ja Oct. 8, 1935. BARRETT 2,016,571

DESK

Filed Dec. 24, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DESK Application December 24, 1934, Serial No. 759,038

21 Claims.

The instant invention relates to desks and more particularly to desks having a top portion which is adjustably tiltable and which is forwardly and rearwardly adjustably slidable. The structure of 5 the instant invention is of the general character shown in United States Letters Patent No. 1,851,906, issued March 29, 1932, to Olive G. Henderson and under which my assignee is exclusive licensee, and is also of the general character shown in application for Letters Patent Serial No. 738,463, filed August 4, 1934, by Henry P. Nordmark and by him assigned to my assignee.

The primary objects of the present invention are to provide a structure of the general character 15' above indicated which is particularly well adapted for use in the school room; to provide such a structure whose desk top is amply adjustable both forwardly and rearwardly as Well as upwardly and downwardly; to provide such a structure Whose use by the school pupil is designed to minimize eye strain; to provide such a structure having unitary means for both locking the desk top in adjusted forwardly or rearwardly slid positions and for releasing the desk top from locked angularly adjusted position; to provide such a structure whose desk top alone serves as a lid for the book compartment of the desk; and, to provide such a structure which is more economical in manufacture and is more practical in use than 39 are the structures of the patent and patent application above identified.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a school desk, showing in full lines, the desk top in one of its angularly adjusted positions and in dotted lines the desk top is shown in both a rearwardly slid and angularly adjusted position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the school desk showing in dotted lines the desk top in'two of its angularly adjusted positions;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the desk with its top in angularly adjusted position viewed from a direction looking toward the face of a pupil seated in front of the desk;

Figure 4 is a sectional view thereof on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View of the mechanism for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position together with unitary ,means for both locking the desk top in forwardly ,or rearwardly slid positions and for releasing the desk top from locked angularly adjusted positions, the section being on line 6-6 of Figure 8;

Figure 7 is a sectional view thereof on line 1-1 of Figures 6 and 8;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 8--8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure '7;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line Ill-l0 of Figure 2; 10

Figure 11 is a sectional View of a modified construction of the mechanism shown in Figure 6;

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the modified construction shown in Figure 11 with the ratchet segment omitted; and

Figure 13 is a sectional View thereof on line !3l3 of Figure 11.

Referring now to these drawings in which like parts of the structures shown are designated by the same numerals in the several views, a desk is here shown as of the school type with a conventional wooden or metal bottom Ill and upstanding opposite ends ll, l2 and sides l3, I 4 forming a book compartment or box. A pair of guide members l5, 5 here shown as metal rods are respectively secured to the opposite ends ll,

I2 along their respective outside surfaces and in spaced relation thereto in any suitable manner as by brackets l1, best shown in Figure 10.

A pair of plates l8, l9, preferably of stamped :0 sheet metal, are provided with oppositely disposed depending tongues 20. The two tongues of each plate are formed to slidably embrace the rods l5, 56, respectively and an equalizing member 2| of considerable width is interposed between and secured to the inwardly flanged portion 22 of each plate l8, [9 in any suitable manner as by the rivets 23.

Hinge members, likewise of stamped sheet metal and each having depending segmental portions 26, 21, are respectively pivotally secured to the plates l8, l9 and each hinge member is provided with an inwardly flanged portion 28 to which the desk top 29 is secured as by screws 30.

The depending segmental portion 26 of the hinge member is provided with ratchet teeth 3| and a bell crank lever 32 interposed between the plate l8 and segmental portion 26 of the hinge member is pivotally secured to the plate l8 as by .a pintle in the manner best shown in Figures 6, '7 and 8. This bell crank lever is provided with a projecting tongue 33 whose function will be hereinafter described and with a detent 34 adapted to be swung by gravity into engagement with the ratchet teeth 3| for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position as best shown in Figure 6 and as indicated in Figure 1.

Unitary means for both releasing the detent 34 from engagement with the ratchet teeth 3! and for 5 locking its supporting plate [8 in adjusted slid position on the rod 85 comprises the depending lever 35. This lever has a cammed head 35 which is pivotally secured to the plate [8 and is provided with a projecting flange or stud 3'5. When the lever 35 is swung to the left as viewed in Figure 6, the cammed head 35 engages the under side of the rod IE to lock the plate 58 in adjusted slid position thereon and when the lever 35 is swung to the right as viewed in Figure 6, the flange or stud 3! engages the tongue 33 for moving the detent 34 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 3|.

Secured as by a rivet 38 to each plate l8, 19 on the outside thereof and adjacent the respective depending segmental portions 2t, 2? of each hinge member is a friction'disc 39 of rawhide or the like as best shown in Figure 8. Cover members M3 for each plate i3, 99, forming a housing for the hinge mechanism, are each provided with a portion, here shown as a friction disc d! secured thereto as by the rivet 38, adapted to engage the respective depending segmental portions 26, 21 of the hinge members likewise as best shown in Figure 8. These cover members is are preferably adjustably secured to the plates l8, H! by screws 43 which adjustably control the tension of the discs 39, M on opposite sides of the depending segmental portions '26, 21 of the hinge members.

In the modified construction shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13, a spring M is secured at its opposite ends to the stud 3? and to tongue 45 for tensionally holding the stud 3? out of engagement with the tongue 33 of the bell crank lever 32.

The desk top may if desired be provided with a book or paper supporting easel 45 which may be unfolded to the position shown in Figure 1 or folded to the position shown in Figure 2, the structural features of which are to be more clearly illustrated, described and claimed in a separate copending application.

In operation, since the desk top 29 is hingedly connected to the plates 18, is which are slidably mounted upon the guide members or rods l5, Hi, the desk top shown in full lines in Figure 2 may be raised and held in the adjusted angular position shown in full lines in Figure 1 by the ratchet and detent mechanism hereinbefore described and thereafter slid to positions indicated in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2.

It will thus be seen that a desk here shown as of the school type has been herein illustrated and described whose use tends to minimize eye strain and whose desk top alone serves as a lid for the book compartment of the desk.

While but several specific embodiments of this invention have been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the constructions shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, a school desk having upstanding ends and sides, parallel rods disposed adjacent the opposite ends, a plate slidably secured to each rod, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a gravity operated detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and means for releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth.

.2. In a structure of the class described, a school desk having a bottom and upstanding ends and sides, parallel rods disposed adjacent the opposite ends, a plate slidably secured to each rod, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, and a detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position.

3. In a structure of the class described, a school desk having a bottom and upstanding ends and sides, parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, and a detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position.

4. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel rods disposed adjacent the opposite ends, a plate slidably secured to each rod, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, and a detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in anguiarly adjusted position.

5. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, an equalizing member interposed between and secured to each plate, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion and having a detent adapted to swing by gravity into engagement with the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and unitary means for both releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth and for locking its supporting plate in adjusted slid position comprising a depending lever having a cammed head pivotally secured to the plate adapted to be swung in one direction into engagement with the bell crank lever for moving the detent out of engagement with the teeth and adapted to be swung in the other direction to cause its cammed head to engage the adjacent guide member.

6. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, an equalizing member interposed between and secured to each plate, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion and having a detent adapted to swing by gravity into engagement with the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and unitary means for both releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth and for locking its supporting plate in adjusted slid position.

7. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, an equalizing member interposed between and secured to each plate, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion and having a detent adapted to swing by gravity into engagement with the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and means for releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth comprising a depending lever pivotally secured to the plate adapted to be swung into engagement with the bell crank lever for moving the detent out of engagement with the teeth.

8. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, an equalizing member interposed between and secured to each plate, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion and having a detent adapted to swing by gravity into engagement with the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and means for releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth.

9. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, an equalizing member interposed between and secured to each plate, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate and having a depending segmental portion, one of said segmental portions being provided with ratchet teeth, a gravity operated detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion provided with said teeth adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, means for releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth, and a cover member for each plate, one plate having a portion adapted to tensionally engage the adjacent depending segmental portion during the swinging movement of the desk top.

10. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, an equalizing member interposed between and secured to each plate, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate and having a depending segmental portion, one of said segmental portions being provided with ratchet teeth, a detent pivotally so cured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion provided with said teeth adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and a cover member for each plate, one cover member having a portion adapted to tensionally engage the adjacent depending segmental portion during the swinging movement of the desk top.

11. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion and having a detent adapted to swing by gravity into engagement with the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and unitary means for both releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth and for locking its supporting plate in adjusted slid position comprising a depending lever having a cammed head pivotally secured to the plate adapted to be swung in one direction into engagement with the bell crank lever for moving the detent out of engagement with the teeth and adapted to be swung in the other direction to cause its cammed head to engage the adjacent guide member.

12. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion and having a detent adapted to swing by gravity into engagement with the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and unitary means for both releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth and for locking its supporting plate in adjusted slid position.

13. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion and having a detent adapted to swing by gravity into engagement with the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and means for releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth comprising a depending lever pivotally secured to the plate adapted to be swung int-o engagement with the bell crank lever for moving the detent out of engagement with the teeth.

14. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a bell crank lever pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion and having a detent adapted to swing by gravity into engagement with the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and means for releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth.

15. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate and having a depending segmental portion, one of said segmental portions being provided with ratchet teeth, a gravity operated detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion provided with said teeth adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, means for releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth, and a cover member for each plate, one cover member having a portion adapted to tensionally engage the adjacent depending segmental portion during the swinging movement of the desktop.

16. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate and having a depending segmental portion, one of said segmental portions being provided with ratchet teeth, a detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion provided with said teeth adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and a cover member for each plate, one cover member having a portion adapted to tensionally engage the adjacent depending segmental portion during the swinging movement of the desk top.

17. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, an equalizing member interposed between and secured to each plate, a hinge member piv-ctally secured to each plate, a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a gravity operated detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and means for releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth.

18. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plateslidably secured to each guide member, an equaliZing member interposed between and secured to each plate, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members,'one of said hinge members having a segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth and a detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position.

19. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a depending segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, a gravity operated detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position, and means for releasing the detent from engagement with the teeth.

20. In a structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a segmental portion provided with ratchet teeth, and a detent pivotally secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion adapted to engage the teeth for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position.

21. A structure of the class described, a desk top support having parallel guide members disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, a plate slidably secured to each guide member, a hinge member pivotally secured to each plate, and a desk top secured to the hinge members, one of said hinge members having a segmental portion, and means secured to the plate adjacent the segmental portion adapted to engage the seg- 4 mental portion for maintaining the desk top in angularly adjusted position.

GLENN J. BARRETT. 

